FRANCESC PAUSAS COLL (Barcelona, ​​1877 - 1944) - Carnival

Descriptio Oil on canvas. Dimensions: 131 x 192 cm. Dimensions with frame: 143 x 204 cm. An important painting by the Catalan artist Francesc Pausas Coll, belonging to his period of association with Cuba, where he produced numerous figurative works, portraits, and scenes of social life. The painting depicts a unique carnival scene featuring three female figures in elaborate costumes, in a composition of great chromatic richness and a distinctly theatrical character. In the foreground, a young woman sits on a Manila shawl decorated with large polychrome floral motifs, wearing a yellow skirt, a pink sash, and a rich, bullfighting-inspired jacket adorned with gold embroidery, evoking the figure of a bullfighter. Her face, with its serene expression and gaze directed towards the viewer, contrasts with the ornamental exuberance of her attire. On the left is a figure characterized as Harlequin, his face covered by a black mask, wearing a wide dark ruff and a white suit decorated with large polka dots, holding a stringed musical instrument. In the upper right appears a third female figure in oriental-inspired clothing, identified as a young Chinese woman, depicted in profile and wearing a wide, dark kimono decorated with floral motifs. Her presence introduces an element of exoticism and sophistication that reinforces the festive atmosphere of the scene. The composition unfolds against a background of blue, green, and gray tones, rendered with loose and suggestive brushstrokes that contrast with the definition of the main figures. Particularly noteworthy is the treatment of the fabrics, the luminosity of the flesh tones, and the richness of the ornamental details, as well as the balanced distribution of the figures within a large-format composition. The work reflects Pausas’s artistic sensibility toward the representation of elegant figures, society scenes, and cosmopolitan settings, combining a solid academic training with remarkably modern pictorial techniques. The artist developed a significant international career, especially linked to Havana, where his work achieved recognition in the artistic and social circles of the time. The painting holds particular historical interest due to its identification with the work “Carnaval, ” documented in an old photograph that reproduces the same composition and frame. In 1947, María Sampere gifted the painting to her friend Conangla. According to family accounts, the work remained in Cuba when the Conangla family left the island in the late 1960s. This reference provides important evidence of the circulation of Francesc Pausas’s work within the Cuban cultural sphere during the 20th century. The rediscovery of this composition allows us to recognize a work of remarkable artistic ambition.Especially significant for its carnival theme, monumental format, and connection to the artist’s history in Havana. It is presented with a gilded frame featuring raised vegetal ornamentation, befitting the decorative character and importance of the composition. Historical provenance: Conangla Collection, Cuba, since 1947; kept on the island at least until the late 1960s. Documentary reference: article “One Hundred Years Later, ” which reproduces a historical photograph of Carnaval and traces its history in the Conangla Collection. Lot in international warehouse (within the EU). Intra-EU shipping: no import duties apply within the EU. An export permit from the country of origin may be required.

Estimate:$33,679.47

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